Writing Children's Books For Dummies

by Buccieri, Lisa Rojany; Economy, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780764537288
• ISBN10: 0764537288
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-29
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Everyone loves a children's book. And many dream about writing one. But is it actually possible for an unpublished writer-armed with a good story idea and a love of kids-to write, sell, publish, and promote a book? Yes, it is! Veteran children's book publishing executive and author Lisa Rojany Buccieri and author Peter Economy show you how, in their incredibly useful 2005 first edition of Writing Children's Books For Dummiesr.Buccieri and Economy begin by explaining the basics of the children's book business, from the nuts and bolts of the various formats and genres-with helpful illustrations to aid you-to the intricacies of the book publishing market, a list of recent award-winning books, and a first peek into the particular mind set that writing children's books requires. (Hint: Throw out the adult rules, and think like a kid!)Then the authors dive into the actual writing process itself, with tips on setting up a workspace, brainstorming great book ideas, researching the subject you decide on, even speaking with the sorts of kids you hope will eventually read the book. They show you how to create compelling characters and develop them in the manuscript; how to outline and write a plot "arc" of conflict, change, and resolution; how to master the difficult art of writing dialogue; and how to use active (rather than passive) language to keep your story moving along and interesting to young minds.Or, if you're planning to write a creative nonfiction children's book-on a topic such as science, nature, or a historical figure, for example-the authors include a chapter on this, too. Ready, set, go... it's time to sit down and write!Once you've finished your book, however, the process has only begun. Now you will refine, submit, and hopefully sell your manuscript. Here again, the authors of Writing Children's Books For Dummies come through for you. They deliver solid advice on hiring an illustrator-or not; participating in workshops and conferences to learn the business and hone a story; finding an agent; and, finally, submitting the manuscript to publishers and-if you are successful-signing a contract.Along the way, the authors also include tips on handling rejection; a quick primer on the various editors in publishing houses (and how they work to make your book its best); and making a plan to publicize the book, including hiring a publicist if necessary.Like all For Dummiesr books, Writing Children's Books For Dummies highlights "The Part of Tens," which includes the Ten Best Ways to Promote Your Story and More Than Ten Great Sources for Storylines. And the ever-helpful Cheat Sheet includes Tips for Editing your Children's Book Manuscript, Children's Book No-No's, Twelve Commandments for Writing Younger Children's Books, and Tips on Promotion.From setting down that first word on paper to doing a successful publicity tour, Writing Children's Books For Dummies gives you the confidence and the insiders' know-how to write and sell the story you've always wanted to write.

Author Biography

Lisa Rojany Buccieri is a publishing executive with over 15 years’ experience in the industry. Lisa has also written nearly 40 children’s books and co-written a New York Times-bestselling adult nonfiction hardcover, Fund Your Future (Berkley, 2002), with Julie Stav. Her books have received various accolades, such as reaching Number 1 on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list two years in a row (Make Your Own Valentines, PSS/Penguin) and winning the American Bookseller’s Pick of the List (Giant Animal Fold-Outs: Kangaroo & Company, PSS/Penguin). King Arthur’s Camelot (Dutton) was selected to be a Book of the Month Club selection; Child Magazine chose her Exploring the Human Body (Barron’s) as one of its Best New Parenting Books; and The Magic Feather (Troll) won a Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award. Lisa is currently spearheading a new children’s book packaging and publishing division at Americhip Books, focusing on integrating light, sound, animation, paper engineering, and other cuttingedge technologies with stories and art. She has been Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Group USA, Intervisual Books, Gateway Learning Corp (Hooked on Phonics), and others. She speaks about children’s publishing, writing, and editing at U.C.L.A. Writer’s Program Extension courses and other venues and is currently working on a book of fiction for grown-ups. Lisa also runs her own company, Editorial Services of Los Angeles, in which she helps other writers make their work the best it can be. You can contact her at www.editorialservicesofla.com.

Peter Economy is a veteran author with nine For Dummies titles under his belt, including two second editions. Peter is coauthor of Home-Based Business For Dummies, Building Your Own Home For Dummies, Consulting For Dummies, The Management Bible, Why Aren’t You Your Own Boss?, Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs, and many more books. Peter is also Associate Editor of Leader to Leader, the award-winning journal of the Leader to Leader Institute. Check out Peter’s Web site at www.petereconomy.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
What You're Not to Read	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Part I: The ABCs of Writing for Children	3	(1)
Part II: Immersing Yourself in the Writing Process	4	(1)
Part III: Creating a Spellbinding Story	4	(1)
Part IV: Making Your Story Shine	4	(1)
Part V: Getting Published and Promoting Your Book	4	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	5	(2)
Part I: The ABCs of Writing for Children	7	(56)
Chapter 1: The Basics of Writing Children's Books	9	(8)
Knowing Your Format and Audience	10	(1)
Getting to a Good Writing Zone	10	(1)
Transforming Yourself into a Storyteller	11	(1)
Polishing Your Gem and Getting It Ready to Send	12	(1)
Submitting, Selling, and Promoting Your Book	13	(4)
Chapter 2: Children's Book Formats and Genres	17	(32)
Children's Book Categories and Formats	17	(2)
Books with Pictures	19	(10)
Board books	19	(2)
Picture books	21	(3)
Other books with pictures	24	(5)
Books with Lots of Words	29	(11)
Early readers	29	(3)
First chapter books	32	(1)
Middle-grade books	32	(3)
Young adult books	35	(5)
Genres for Different Readers	40	(9)
Science fiction	41	(1)
Fantasy	42	(1)
Horror and ghost stories	43	(1)
Action/adventure	43	(1)
Historical fiction	43	(1)
Biography	44	(1)
Learning/educational	44	(1)
Religion and diversity	45	(2)
Girl-oriented series books	47	(1)
Licensed character series books	47	(2)
Chapter 3: Understanding the Children's Book Market	49	(14)
Book Buyers	50	(3)
Lauri Smith, Dutton's Books	50	(2)
Sharon Hearn, Children's Book World	52	(1)
Librarians	53	(3)
Susan Patron, Los Angeles Public Library	53	(2)
Michael Cart, critic, editor, lecturer	55	(1)
Teachers	56	(2)
Parents	58	(1)
Thinking Like a Kid	59	(6)
Going after what kids like - regardless of mom and dad	61	(1)
Knowing what kids don't like	62	(1)
Tapping into the trends	62	(1)
Part II: Immersing Yourself in the Writing Process	63	(46)
Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Workspace	65	(8)
Finding Your Time to Write	65	(3)
When are you most productive?	66	(1)
Stick to a writing schedule	67	(1)
Make sure this is what you want to do	68	(1)
Optimizing Your Writing Environment	68	(5)
Find your own special place	68	(1)
Get ergonomic	69	(1)
Organize your workspace	70	(1)
Hang up and log off	71	(1)
Hang your DANGER! KEEP OUT! sign	71	(2)
Chapter 5: Starting with a Great Idea	73	(18)
Once Upon a Time: Coming Up with an Idea	73	(6)
Relying on the tried and true	74	(1)
Tapping into your own experiences	75	(3)
Drawing from other children's experiences	78	(1)
Pulling ideas from the world around you	78	(1)
Stumped? Break Through with Brainstorming	79	(8)
All by yourself	79	(1)
Free association	80	(1)
Structured and free-form journaling	81	(1)
The buddy system	82	(2)
Finding new brainstorming partners	84	(1)
Getting help from your audience	84	(3)
Going back to school for ideas	87	(1)
Fighting Writer's Block	87	(4)
Chapter 6: Researching Your Audience and Subject	91	(18)
Hanging Out with Kids	92	(6)
Go back to school	92	(2)
Become a storyteller	94	(2)
Borrow a friend's child for a day	96	(2)
Dipping into Popular Culture	98	(5)
Watch cartoons	98	(1)
Read parenting and family magazines	99	(1)
Read pop culture magazines	99	(1)
Surf the Web	100	(1)
Browse bookstores	101	(1)
Visit children's stores online or in person	102	(1)
Study kids' fashion trends	102	(1)
Researching Your Nonfiction Topic	103	(8)
The research process	103	(2)
Get around locally	105	(1)
Go far afield	105	(1)
Visit cyberspace	106	(1)
Have an expert look over your work	106	(3)
Part III: Creating a Spellbinding Story	109	(94)
Chapter 7: Creating Compelling Characters	111	(22)
Creating Your Exceptional Main Character	112	(1)
Recognize your main character's core	112	(1)
Flesh out your main character	112	(1)
Using Dialogue to Define Characters	113	(1)
Making a Character Bible	114	(4)
Stories with Two or More Main Characters	118	(1)
Choosing Supporting Characters	119	(3)
Avoiding Character Don'ts	122	(5)
Avoid stereotypes	122	(2)
Show your character in action	124	(1)
Toss out passivity and indefinites	125	(1)
Don't rely on backstory or flashbacks	126	(1)
Calling All Character Arcs	127	(2)
Developing Characters through Writing Exercises	129	(4)
Describe your first best friend	130	(1)
Describe the love of your life	131	(1)
Steal from your favorite children's book author	131	(2)
Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens: Conflict, Climax, and Resolution	133	(10)
Centering on the Story	134	(1)
Beginning, Middle, and End	135	(1)
Conflict: Using Pacing and Drama	136	(1)
Outlining Tools to Structure Your Plot	137	(4)
Satisfying readers with plot structure	137	(1)
Creating a step sheet	137	(2)
Fleshing out your outline	139	(1)
Knowing when to circumvent an outline	140	(1)
Writing Your First Draft	141	(2)
Chapter 9: Can We Talk? Writing Dialogue	143	(14)
When to Use Dialogue	143	(4)
Dialogue needs a function	144	(2)
Dialogue needs drama	146	(1)
Listening to the Kids	147	(1)
Dialogue and Your Character Bible	148	(1)
Common Dialogue Mistakes	149	(4)
Dialogue without conflict or tension	150	(1)
Repeated information in your dialogue	150	(1)
Describing dialogue	151	(1)
Too many speaker references and attributions	151	(1)
Heavy-handed and unrealistic dialogue	152	(1)
Unnecessary dialogue	152	(1)
Reading It Out Loud	153	(1)
Improving Dialogue through Writing Exercises	154	(3)
Talk on paper	155	(1)
Introduce your first best friend to the love of your life	155	(1)
Pretend to be someone you aren't	156	(1)
Chapter 10: Setting the Scene	157	(14)
Giving Context to Your Story and Its Characters	157	(1)
When to Include Scenery and Context	158	(5)
When place figures prominently in the story	159	(1)
When the place isn't just incidental	160	(1)
When description of place doesn't interrupt flow of action	161	(1)
When description of context adds something measurable	161	(1)
When you must mention an exotic locale	162	(1)
When beginning a novel and a specific place is mentioned	162	(1)
In a new scene where place is used to transition	163	(1)
How Much Setting and How Often	163	(1)
Engaging Your Readers' Senses	164	(1)
Scene and Setting Writing Exercises	165	(6)
Write about the mundane	166	(1)
Pretend to live in an extraordinary world	167	(1)
Write a smellography	167	(2)
Touch something	169	(1)
Create a sensory short-short story or first chapter	169	(2)
Chapter 11: Finding Your Voice: Point of View and Tone	171	(18)
Building a Solid Point of View	172	(4)
Reviewing point of view options	172	(1)
Picking your point of view	173	(2)
Matching tense with point of view	175	(1)
Word Play, Rhyming, and Rhythm	176	(4)
Add fun to what you write	176	(1)
Take different approaches to rhyming	177	(1)
Keep your story moving with rhythm	178	(2)
Using Humor to Your Advantage	180	(4)
What kids consider funny	180	(2)
The outrageous and the gross	182	(2)
The Mojo of Good Writing: Voice, Style, and Tone	184	(3)
Finding your story's voice	185	(1)
Writing with style	185	(1)
Taking the right tone	186	(1)
Writing Exercises to Find Your Voice	187	(2)
Pretend to be someone else	187	(1)
Pretend you woke up this morning as your favorite animal	187	(1)
Pretend you swallowed a magic potion that makes you only three feet tall	188	(1)
Pretend you have 30 days to live	188	(1)
Chapter 12: Writing Creative Nonfiction and How-To Books	189	(14)
Understanding Nonfiction	189	(4)
The basics of nonfiction	190	(1)
Writing a nonfiction masterpiece	191	(2)
Choosing a Great Topic	193	(4)
Topics that float kids' boats	193	(1)
Topics that float your boat	194	(1)
Branch out into the real world	195	(1)
Test your topic	196	(1)
Outlining Your Creative Nonfiction	197	(8)
Create a simple outline	197	(2)
Flesh out your ideas	199	(1)
Enhance your outline with visual aids	200	(3)
Part IV Making Your Story Shine	203	(44)
Chapter 13: Editing and Formatting Your Way to a Happy Ending	205	(22)
What to Check for at the Rewrite Stage	206	(4)
Theme	206	(1)
Characters	206	(1)
Plot	207	(1)
Pacing and drama	208	(1)
Setting and context	208	(2)
Point of view	210	(1)
The Power of a Good Edit	210	(2)
Hot Editing Tips	212	(4)
If you've got a hook, you've got a book	212	(1)
Keep your dialogue on target	212	(1)
Transition effectively	213	(1)
Wordiness is not next to Godliness	214	(1)
Keep your chronologies in order	215	(1)
Don't assume	215	(1)
Axe out awkward writing	216	(1)
It's time to stop editing when	216	(1)
Hiring an Editor or Editorial Service	216	(6)
Find a good editor	218	(3)
Ask the right questions	221	(1)
Formatting: First Impressions Matter	222	(5)
Keep your presentation simple	222	(1)
Become a formatting pro	223	(2)
Fonts	225	(1)
Headers	226	(1)
Chapter 14: To Illustrate or Not to Illustrate	227	(6)
Editors Match Manuscript to Illustrator	227	(2)
Illustrating Your Own Book	229	(4)
Submitting art and text together	231	(1)
Tooting your horn (as an artist)	232	(1)
Chapter 15: Finding Feedback and Encouragement	233	(14)
Why You Need Feedback	234	(1)
Getting Help from Friends and Relatives (or Not)	235	(2)
Delving into the pros and cons of friendly advice	236	(1)
Having a friend in the business	236	(1)
Attending Conferences	237	(2)
Getting critiqued at conferences	237	(1)
SCBWI Annual Conference	238	(1)
BYU Writing for Young Readers Workshop	239	(1)
Participating in a Workshop	239	(1)
Joining a Writing Group	240	(9)
Find the right writing group	240	(1)
Sift through your feedback	241	(2)
Start your own group	243	(4)
Part V: Getting Published and Promoting Your Book	247	(68)
Chapter 16: Getting an Agent to Represent You	249	(16)
Defining the Perfect (and the Not-So-Perfect) Agent	249	(3)
What good agents can do	250	(1)
Watch out for bad agents	251	(1)
Finding an Agent	252	(8)
Get referrals	252	(2)
Use an agent directory	254	(1)
Attend conferences	255	(1)
How to know when you've found "the one"	256	(1)
Follow submission guidelines	257	(1)
Stand out from the pack	258	(1)
Send a query letter	258	(2)
Understanding Typical Agency Agreements	260	(4)
Standard terms and conditions	260	(2)
Exclusive and by-project services	262	(1)
Negotiate like a pro	262	(2)
Terminating Your Agency Relationship	264	(1)
Chapter 17: Finding the Perfect Publisher and Signing a Contract	265	(20)
Identifying the Right Publisher	265	(3)
Gathering info at bookstores and libraries	267	(1)
Writer's guides and directories	267	(1)
Drafting Query Letters and Proposals	268	(3)
Checking submission guidelines	268	(1)
Submitting query letters	269	(1)
Pumping out proposals	270	(1)
Copyright: Protecting Your Work Before You Send Anything	271	(2)
Advances, Royalties, and Work for Hire	273	(5)
Understanding publishing agreements	273	(1)
Getting what you want in the contract	274	(4)
Dealing with Rejection	278	(2)
Self-Publishing	280	(5)
Reasons to self-publish	281	(1)
When you shouldn't self-publish	282	(3)
Chapter 18: Following the Publishing Process	285	(12)
Moving through the Publishing Process	285	(9)
The editorial process	286	(2)
The production process	288	(1)
What happens in the art department	289	(2)
Marketing and publicity	291	(3)
What to Expect After Your Book Is Published	294	(3)
Dispelling the myths	295	(1)
Partnering with your publisher	296	(1)
Chapter 19: Donning Your Publicity Cap	297	(18)
Doing Your Own Publicity	297	(10)
Put together a publicity plan	298	(1)
Send out press releases	299	(3)
Put together a press kit	302	(1)
Book radio and television spots	303	(2)
Build a Web site for your book	305	(2)
Book Tours, In-Store Signings, Readings, and More	307	(3)
The book tour myth	307	(2)
Bookstores and libraries	309	(1)
Signings and readings	310	(1)
Hiring Your Own Publicist	310	(7)
What a publicist can do	310	(1)
Finding the right publicist	311	(3)
Getting the most for your money	314	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	315	(20)
Chapter 20: More than Ten Great Sources for Storylines	317	(12)
Fairy Tales	318	(1)
Fables	319	(1)
Folk Tales	320	(1)
Mythology and Mythological Heroes	321	(1)
Nursery Rhymes	322	(1)
Bible Stories	322	(1)
Sibling Issues	323	(1)
Family Changes	324	(1)
First Experiences	324	(1)
Common Childhood Fantasies	325	(1)
Friendship and Social Issues	326	(1)
Growing Pains (Emotional and Behavioral)	326	(1)
Bodies and Their Functions	327	(1)
Historical Figures, Historical Moments	327	(1)
Nature and Science	328	(1)
Chapter 21: Ten Best Ways to Promote Your Story	329	(6)
Create a Web Site	329	(1)
Build a Platform	330	(1)
Send Sample Copies	330	(1)
Get in Your Local Newspaper	331	(1)
Do Readings in Stores, Schools, and Libraries	331	(1)
Get on Local Radio and TV	332	(1)
Perform (G-Rated) Publicity Stunts	333	(1)
Put On a Play	333	(1)
Hire a Publicist	334	(1)
Aim High: Prizes and Awards	334	(1)
Index	335